Lens receptor lock for glasses

Abstract

A lens receptor that includes relief mechanism, such as a kerf-like slotted spring lock, that releases under pressure to allow the insertion of the lens and once inserted, provides sufficient force to retain the lens in position even during athletic activity. The lock includes an interior space that includes latches. The lens includes catches and detents that correspond to the latches. In operation, the lock is forced into the open position as the catches of the lens are forced to the backside of the latches, and as the lock closes, the latches are forced into the detents thereby securing the lens to the lock.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A receptor that can be used in conjunction with a glasses frame for receiving a lens, the receptor comprising:
 a housing that includes an inside wall and an outside wall, wherein the walls define a void for receiving a connection element of a lens; 
 the housing including a relief mechanism to allow the void to be increased by displacement of at least portions of at least one of the walls; 
 a first latch located within the void, the first latch corresponding to a first detent, wherein the first detent is defined by the shape of the lens and wherein the first latch provides support for holding the lens in position when the first latch is inserted into the first detent; 
 a second latch located within the void, the second latch corresponding to a second detent, wherein the second detent is defined by the shape of the lens and wherein the second latch further provides support for holding the lens in position when the second latch is inserted into the second detent; and 
 an ear stem receiving end and a lens receiving end, and wherein the edges of the inside wall and the outside wall at the lens receiving end define an opening into the void for receiving the connection element of the lens and, at least one of the inside and outside housing walls includes the relief mechanism which comprises at least one relief slot that runs from the lens edge of the wall and substantially towards the ear stem end of the housing for a first distance, wherein the relief slot enables an upper portion of the wall to be moved in opposing direction from a lower portion of the wall thereby increasing the size of the opening into the void. 
 
     
     
       2. The receptor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured such that, upon placement of the connecting element of the lens into the void causing a particular one of the first and second latches to be forced toward the corresponding detent, the application of a force on the lens in the direction of the other latch causes a catch on the lens to come in contact with the other latch and force the upper portion of the wall to be moved in an opposing direction from a lower portion of the wall thereby increasing the size of the opening into the void. 
     
     
       3. Glasses including a receptor that enables lenses to be attached and detached, the glasses comprising:
 two ear stem elements; 
 two temple elements, each temple element including an ear stem interface and a lens interface on the opposing end of the temple element from the ear stem interface, wherein each ear stem can be attached to the ear stem interface of the temple element; 
 a bridge; 
 a lens element that includes two connecting portions with each connecting portion corresponding to one of the temple elements; 
 wherein each temple element includes a first wall and a second wall that cooperatively define an interior space and an opening into the interior space, at least one wall including a relief mechanism that enables the displacement of at least portions of the wall to increase the size of the opening into the interior space, and wherein the interior space includes at least two latches; 
 wherein each connecting portion of the lens element includes at least two catches with each catch corresponding to one of the at least two latches, and at least one detent associated with a second catch; 
 wherein upon placement of a first catch of the connecting portion through the opening and towards the distal side of a first latch, pressure can be applied to the lens to force the second catch toward a second latch and, wherein the contact between the second catch and the second latch causes the displacement of the second latch relative to the first latch, such that the second catch can pass to the distal side of the second latch thereby allowing the second latch to enter the detent and securing the lens element to the temple element; 
 wherein the relief mechanism in at least one of the walls includes a kerf-like slot that further enables the displacement of the second latch relative to the first latch and the kerf-like slot includes a lateral slot that begins at the edge of the lens interface of the at least one exterior wall and extends towards the ear stem end of the temple element and a vertical slot that is substantially perpendicular to the lateral slot and that intersects with the lateral slot. 
 
     
     
       4. The glasses of  claim 3 , wherein on at least one end of the vertical slot of the kerf-like slot, the exterior wall defines a void that is substantially wider than that vertical slot. 
     
     
       5. The glasses of  claim 4 , wherein the other exterior wall includes a gap between an upper portion of the exterior wall and a lower portion of the exterior wall. 
     
     
       6. The glasses of  claim 5 , wherein the lens element includes two separate lenses with each lens including at least one connecting portion. 
     
     
       7. The glasses of  claim 5 , wherein the lens element is a unitary lens and includes two connecting portions corresponding to each temple element. 
     
     
       8. The glasses of  claim 5 , wherein the lens element can be removed from the temple element by applying pressure against the lens element in substantially the opposite direction of the pressure applied for securing the lens element in the temple element, wherein the second catch forces the second latch to move in the opposite direction from the first latch, thereby causing the second latch to exit the detent and allowing the catch to pass from the distal side of the latch to the proximate side of the latch. 
     
     
       9. The glasses of  claim 5 , wherein the interior sides of the exterior walls fit snuggly against the surface of the lens. 
     
     
       10. The glasses of  claim 5 , wherein the connecting portion of the lens is detachable from the lens. 
     
     
       11. The glasses of  claim 6 , wherein each lens includes a connection portion to the temple element and a connection portion to the bridge, and wherein the bridge comprises:
 a first bridge wall and a second bridge wall that cooperatively define an interior space and an opening into the interior space, at least one wall including a relief mechanism that enables the displacement of at least portions of the wall to increase the size of the opening into the interior space, and wherein the interior space includes at least two latches. 
 
     
     
       12. The glasses of  claim 6 , wherein the bridge connects to each of the lenses on the opposing end from the connecting portion thereby joining the lenses together.